Diana Cosby, International Food Bank Drive (with giveaway)

I’m so pleased to welcome Diana Cosby to Magical Musings. She’s an amazing writer and an amazing person. I’m thrilled that we’re hosting the kick-off of her Second Annual International Food Bank Food Drive challenge. Here’s Diana to tell you all about it.

International Food Bank Food Drive Challenge

It’s the holidays again, an emotion-filled time where it seems there are not enough hours in each day to fit everything in, not to mention dealing with the struggling economy. But, in this time of financial challenges, I ask each of you to please consider one more stop on your crazy to do list, that of making a donation to a local food bank. Your donation can be a dollar, a can of corn, whatever you can give. Anything you can offer to those with nothing is a gift they didn’t have.

I volunteer for Habitat For Humanity, and something amazing happens when you allow a person a flicker of hope, that somehow, incredibly, even a stranger understands that at times life shoves us on a road we never asked for.

Last year, in addition to my personal donation to my local food bank, I decided to start a Food Bank Challenge. Except, it kind of wonderfully got out of hand. Amazingly, once I posted The Food Bank Challenge on my Facebook page and my Facebook fan page, people from across the U.S. began donating to their local food banks. Then, I read posts of donations from Canada. Holy cow, the Food Bank Challenge went international! And you know what, this is truly a blessing. In this venture, we all win. Gifts from the heart do that, they fill you, remind you there is good in the world, and that you can make a positive as profound difference in others lives.

How it works: When you donate to a local food bank, post on my Facebook page or Facebook Fan page, beneath the daily International Food Bank Challenge post or, for this blog only, your donation along with your name and contact information, then I’ll add your name in a drawing. On 6 December I will use www.random.org to draw from all of the names received. The winner will receive an autographed set of the MacGruder brother series to date; His Captive, His Woman, His Conquest, and His Destiny. I will sign the set, and then send them priority to whoever you want to make a personal holiday present!

Edie,
Good morning and my sincere thanks for having me on Magical Musings to kick off the 2nd Annual International Food Bank Food Drive. I’m ultra excited to be here for this worthy cause. With the challenging times, food banks need food now more than ever. Each can, bag of food, or monetary donation allows them to feed others, to give them hope. This years goal – 1000 donations!
Take care and God bless,

Edie,
It is heart-breaking. Each of us can make a difference in others lives. Thank you so much for having me on Magical Musings and your donation. You’re the 1st person on my donation list! ^5
Happy Holidays!

Lori Brighton says: Wow! What a great thing to do! I know a lot of food banks around us have said how low they are, and I’m assuming with the economy, it’s not uncommon around the country.

~Hi Lori, thank you so much for stopping by. Exactly, in these challenging times, everyone is working hard to make ends meet. My hope is to encourage donations and help fill the food banks shelves and give those who unsure of each day a warm meal along with hope. Take care and I hope you have an amazing holiday season!
Sincerely,

Welcome to MM, Diana! What a great cause you’re promoting. The food bank in my hometown has outstanding volunteers and they put on a monthly lunch as well as perform food drives and assist those who need it. Our town is small and we band together on many things. We have a local mill (run completely by volunteers) that grinds flour, so I think I’ll buy some bags of flour and donate them to the food bank, thus helping both enterprises.

~Hi Misty, thank you so much for the warm welcome, it’s my sincere pleasure to be a guest today.

What a great cause you’re promoting. The food bank in my hometown has outstanding volunteers and they put on a monthly lunch as well as perform food drives and assist those who need it. Our town is small and we band together on many things. We have a local mill (run completely by volunteers) that grinds flour, so I think I’ll buy some bags of flour and donate them to the food bank, thus helping both enterprises.

~Food banks are struggling and I agree, they provide such a critical service to so many during this challenging time. Your local food bank sounds wonderful. My sincere thanks to each and every one of the volunteers for their taking time out of their lives to make a positive difference on so many others.
*I’ve added your name to the donation list. 

Looking forward to your new Highland vampire series!

~Thank you so much. As soon as I know the anthology’s release date and title, I’ll post it on my Facebook pages and in my newsletter. Take care and I hope you have an amazing holiday season!
Sincerely,

Cynthia D’Alba says: Diana – You never cease to amaze me. What an excellent idea.

~Hi Cynthia, thank you so much for stopping by to say by as your kind comments. If my donating the signed series of the MacGruder brother’s series helps fill up food bank shelves, I’m humbled. Take care and I hope you have an amazing holiday season!
Sincerely,

A fantastic event. I know food banks need food all year round and I always give what I can and my community is big on giving. There are food bank bins set up everywhere including libraries. Wishing this event a lot of success.

Na says: A fantastic event. I know food banks need food all year round and I always give what I can and my community is big on giving. There are food bank bins set up everywhere including libraries. Wishing this event a lot of success.

~Hi Na, thank you so much for stopping by. I agree, the food banks need more than donations on holidays. Hoping the donations raised will help them throughout the year. Take care and I hope you have an amazing holiday season!
Sincerely,

What a wonderful idea to help the food banks. My husband and I help as many food pantries as we can. We give to Harvesters, our church pantry, City Union Mission and any others we can. If it weren’t for the grace of God, we could be the ones needing help.

~Hi Sandy, thank you so much for stopping by. If anything helps encourage donations to food pantries, that’s what it’s all about.

My husband and I help as many food pantries as we can. We give to Harvesters, our church pantry, City Union Mission and any others we can. If it weren’t for the grace of God, we could be the ones needing help.

~Your help to the food pantries is sincerely appreciated. Each donation touches so many lives. Thank you so much and I’ll add your name to the list. Take care and I hope you have an amazing holiday season!
Sincerely,

Diana, what a wonderful, inspired idea!! Thank you so much for visiting MM today and telling us about it… Thanks even more for organizing an event like this that will help so many. Happy to spread the word, too! Marilyn Brant`s last blog was …Happy Halloween!!

Welcome to MM! It’s a great cause that you are promoting! It’s a huge issue in many parts of the world. I’m Canadian and I know the shelves here are often empty and the line ups of the needy are around the blocks. So important to help out. Unfortunately, I’ve had first hand experience of food banks both receiving and volunteering. It’s hard breaking!

It’s a great cause that you are promoting! It’s a huge issue in many parts of the world. I’m Canadian and I know the shelves here are often empty and the line ups of the needy are around the blocks. So important to help out. Unfortunately, I’ve had first hand experience of food banks both receiving and volunteering. It’s hard breaking!

~My sincere thanks for your volunteering at your local food bank. There’s something amazing that happens when you volunteer of self. It truly fills the soul. Yes, those needing food is a world wide issue, but with each donation we offer food and hope. Take care and I hope this holiday season fills you with joy. *Hugs*
Sincerely,

Liz Lipperman says: Diana, what a wonderful cause. I wil definitely make a trip to the grocery store and drop it off at a food bank. to think of all the food we all waste everyday is a crime. Let’s all do our part.

~Hi Liz, great seeing you. Thank you so much for stopping by and for the donation. I’ve added your name to the list. ^5 I’m with you, it’s exciting to know that each donation truly helps so many. Take care and I hope your holiday season is the best yet! *Hugs*
Sincerely,

Marilyn Brant says: Diana, what a wonderful, inspired idea!! Thank you so much for visiting MM today and telling us about it…

~Marilyn, my sincere thanks for having me on Magical Musings to kick off this year’s International Food Bank Food Drive.

Thanks even more for organizing an event like this that will help so many. Happy to spread the word, too!

~The food drive event is fun to organize. I’ve met so many amazing people who touch so many lives. Best, we’re working together to help those who are facing challenging times with an offer of a meal and more, hope. It’s all truly humbling. I wish you and yours an amazing holiday season!
Sincerely,

I always put a little something extra in my grocery cart to add to the collection boxes near the exits, but this year I didn’t something a little different by signing up for United Way at work and donating specifically to St. Mary’s Food Bank all year round.

Linda Andrews says: I always put a little something extra in my grocery cart to add to the collection boxes near the exits, but this year I didn’t something a little different by signing up for United Way at work and donating specifically to St. Mary’s Food Bank all year round.

~Hi Linda, I appreciate your stopping by and sharing. Wow, that’s a fabulous gift. I’ve added your name to the food drive list. When you get a moment, can you please e me your e-mail for my records in case your name is drawn? My e is diana@dianacosby.com. Take care and I may your holidays be filled with blessings!
Sincerely,

Edie and everyone at Magical Musings,
My deepest thanks for allowing me to kick off the 2nd Annual International Food Bank Food Drive at Magical Musings. Another thanks to everyone who stopped by and made donations. This truly was a special day where your donations helped changed peoples lives and gave them the gift of hope. I wish all of you an amazing holiday season. May your each day be filled with blessings.
Sincerely,

Thank you Diana and Edie for remembering those who need during this stressful time of year. While I do not donate directly to a particular food bank, my local supermarket sells bags of groceries for amounts from $10-18. Publix uses the money to buy that amount of groceries for local food banks. Also, I usually donate used books to Women In Distress in their thrift shop. I know two women who work there and one who has needed their help. Publix also makes bags of school supplies available to purchase for back to school. I worked in social services for almost 20 years and the church that housed our children’s programs also houses the local food bank. This time of year the lines often went around the block. No one ever knows when that last paycheck or that one missed mortgage payment might put them in “need.” From a single mom who has been on both sides of giving, I know how important it is to remember families at this time of year florence fois`s last blog was …The “Write” Way …

Florence Fois says: Thank you Diana and Edie for remembering those who need during this stressful time of year. While I do not donate directly to a particular food bank, my local supermarket sells bags of groceries for amounts from $10-18. Publix uses the money to buy that amount of groceries for local food banks.

~Hi Florence, thank you so much for stopping by. I’ve seen several super markets make up bags of food like this. It’s wonderful. So glad to hear of another.

Also, I usually donate used books to Women In Distress in their thrift shop.

I know two women who work there and one who has needed their help. Publix also makes bags of school supplies available to purchase for back to school. I worked in social services for almost 20 years and the church that housed our children’s programs also houses the local food bank. This time of year the lines often went around the block. No one ever knows when that last paycheck or that one missed mortgage payment might put them in “need.” From a single mom who has been on both sides of giving, I know how important it is to remember families at this time of year

~*Hugs* Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing. So true, each donation is an immense help. I’ve added your name to the donation list. Please e me your contact information in case your name is drawn at diana@dianacosby.com Take care and may your holidays be filled with blessings!
Sincerely,

Hi Diana! What a wonderful way to start off the pending holidays. One of the things I love about my day job is that we also have food drives and toys for tots. Every year Manna comes in and does a drive as well.

To you or I this donation is a drop in the bucket but to a starving family it means several days of having food in their belly.

This is what we should be organizing and supporting in this time of crooked elections.

MM Friday Finds

MM blogger Robin Bielman's novel Yours At Midnight is on special at 99c at the moment. Get it at:Amazon | B&N | iBooks

MM bloggers Edie Ramer, Mary Hughes, Dale Mayer & Michelle Diener have stories in a boxed set ENTRANCED which is on special at 99c for a very limited time. Get it at:Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Coming Up

On March 5th we welcome Coreene Callahan, author of the Dragonfury Series, to MM. Coreene is a rabid hockey fan with a love of the great outdoors. More comfortable on a ski slope than in a shopping mall, she spends her days dreaming up and writing high-octane, action-packed paranormal romances.

On March 12th we have romantic comedy, paranormal mysteries and romantic mysteries author Darlene Gardner as our guest.

We are excited to have Australian romance author Jennie Jones visiting Magical Musings on March 25th.

Contemporary romance author Maggie Kelley will be here on April 2nd to talk about her love of New York and her debut novel, Breaking the Bachelor.

Jeffe Kennedy, author of the Twelve Kingdoms fantasy romance series and other books, will drop by Magical Musings on May 7.